2006 Language, Culture, and Technology Institute in Japan for K-12 Language Teachers

The Alliance of Associations of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) and the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa, announce joint sponsorship of a four-week Language, Culture, and Technology Institute in Japan during Summer 2006.

Up to 20 non-native-speaking teachers of Japanese in US K-12 schools will receive intermediate and advanced-level Japanese language instruction in an immersion environment; visit schools, museums, and other cultural sites; collect authentic materials for classroom use; receive training in the use of new media technologies; and collaborate in creating media-based materials (films, videos, computer programs) for use in their classrooms and for dissemination to colleagues across the US at conferences, workshops, and other venues.

The institute will take place at the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute in Urawa, Japan (tentative dates, June 25 Ð July 22, 2006). Project Director for the technology training section of the institute will be Yasu-Hiko Tohsaku of the University of California, San Diego. Classroom materials created by participants in a previous summer institute can be viewed online at http://www.aatj.org/classroom/SummerInstitute2004/index.html

Completion of this institute will entitle participating teachers to receive continuing-education credits (6.5 quarter units or 4.33 semester units) from the University of California at Los Angeles. The cost of these credits (estimated at $500) will be borne by participants; most other costs of the program will be covered by the Japan Foundation and by the Alliance. We hope to be able to cover all expenses; however, depending on the availability of funding, participants may be asked to pay a portion of their airfare to Japan.

If you would like to attend the 2006 Summer Institute, please complete this application form, in collaboration with your school. In order to report your scores on the Japanese Proficiency Self-Check Test (on page 2 of the application form) please download the test from this website.

Please submit two (2) copies of the application by JANUARY 13, 2006, to